GLASGOW 2014 gold medallist Lizzie Armitstead has been taken to hospital after suffering an agonising crash moments after winning the first stage of the Women's Tour in Aldeburgh.

Video footage showing Armitstead tumbling to the ground while celebrating shortly after the finish line has appeared online, with several other riders also crashing afterwards.

The British cyclist, who won silver at London 2012, was immediately treated by paramedics before being rushed off to hospital around 30 minutes later.

British Cycling tweeted: "Best wishes to Britain's Lizzie Armitstead who won has won stage one of the Women's Tour but has crashed after the finish line."

Footage of the incident did not appear to show any other riders involved in Armitstead's crash, though a sudden collision of some kind appears to be the reason for her being unseated.

Armitstead, whose honours include Olympic silver in the road race at London 2012 and gold at last year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, was considered a leading contender for the five-stage Women's Tour.

Question -1 of 5Score -0 of 0

Which nation does British-born taekwondo No.1 Aaron Cook represent?

Frozen out: Aaron Cook has been left out of the Olympic team, despite being the World No 1 (Image: Getty)